Your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, connects your jawbone to your skull at your temporal bone. It’s necessary for talking, chewing, and swallowing. You need it just to open your mouth! If you experience pain or discomfort when doing any of those tasks, you may have a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
TMD is caused by stress, along with the clenching and grinding of the teeth and jaws (bruxism). Other possibilities are facial trauma or inflammatory conditions.
The common symptoms of TMD:
- Jaw becoming stuck in an open position
- Difficulty chewing and opening your mouth
- Ear pain, accompanied by headaches
- Popping or clicking noise when moving the jaw
- Teeth grinding
The biggest factor for TMD is teeth grinding. Many people do it without even realizing it! When you grind your teeth, your top and bottom rows scrape against each other. This wears down your enamel and exposes the dentin. Dentin is incredibly sensitive, causing discomfort and pain.
For short-term relief, apply hot/cold packs to the affected area. Do this in 15-minute intervals for the best results. You should also take over-the-counter pain medications. Sometimes, a nightguard is needed. This prevents your teeth from grinding against each other while you sleep.
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